Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, Devon TQ1 3DR Main Switchboard (01803) 201201 Fax (01803) 207006 DX 59006 Wednesday, 22 February 2012 Meeting of the Council Dear Member I am pleased to invite you to attend a meeting of Torbay Council which will be held in Ballroom, Oldway Mansion, Torquay Road, Paignton, TQ3 2TE on Thursday, 1 March 2012 commencing at 5.30 pm The items to be discussed at this meeting are attached. Yours sincerely, Elizabeth Raikes Chief Executive (All members are summoned to attend the meeting of the Council in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1972 and Standing Orders A5.) Working for a healthy, prosperous and happy Bay For information relating to this meeting or to request a copy in another format or language please contact: June Gurry, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, TQ1 3DR 01803 207012 Email: [email protected] (i) Meeting of the Council Agenda 1. Opening of meeting 2. Apologies for absence 3. Minutes (Pages 1 - 26) To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 1 February 2012 and the Adjourned meeting of the Council held on 8 February 2012. 4. Declarations of interests (a) To receive declarations of personal interests in respect of items on this agenda For reference: Having declared their personal interest members and officers may remain in the meeting and speak (and, in the case of Members, vote on the matter in question). If the Member’s interest only arises because they have been appointed to an outside body by the Council (or if the interest is as a member of another public body) then the interest need only be declared if the Member wishes to speak and/or vote on the matter. A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting. (b) To receive declarations of personal prejudicial interests in respect of items on this agenda For reference: A Member with a personal interest also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if a member of the public (with knowledge of the relevant facts) would reasonably regard the interest as so significant that it is likely to influence their judgement of the public interest. Where a Member has a personal prejudicial interest he/she must leave the meeting during consideration of the item. However, the Member may remain in the meeting to make representations, answer questions or give evidence if the public have a right to do so, but having done so the Member must then immediately leave the meeting, may not vote and must not improperly seek to influence the outcome of the matter. A completed disclosure of interests form should be returned to the Clerk before the conclusion of the meeting. (Please note: If members and officers wish to seek advice on any potential interests they may have, they should contact Democratic Services or Legal Services prior to the meeting.) 5. Communications To receive any communications or announcements from the Chairman, the Mayor, the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinator or the Chief Executive. 6. Petitions To receive petitions and any oral representations from the public in accordance with Standing Order A12 as set out below:- (ii) (a) Petition Against the Pool Closure at Cockington Primary School, Torquay Approximately 137 signatures, to be presented to Council. (b) Petition Requesting the Removal of Grass Verges to Make More Parking Spaces, to Reduce Accidents, Making it Safer for Children to Play and More Accessible for Using Woodend Project Approximately 65 signatures, this petition has been referred to the decision maker (Highways Services Manager, Patrick Carney in consultation with the Executive Lead for Safer Communities and Transport, Councillor Robert Excell). (c) Objection to St Michaels Traffic Action Zone Scheme Approximately 179 signatures, this petition has been referred to the decision maker (Highways Services Manager, Patrick Carney in consultation with the Executive Lead for Safer Communities and Transport, Councillor Robert Excell). 7. Public question time To hear and respond to any written questions or statements from members of the public which have been submitted in accordance with Standing Order A24. ‘Dartmouth Road Crossing In 2011 I with a number of other people with a visual impairment attended a Transport Council meeting to ask for Dartmouth Road crossing to be relocated so that it could become a controlled crossing. The Highways manager had already carried out a site visit and acknowledged that this would the best position for a controlled crossing and that it would have been the most desirable position for the crossing when it was first installed. At the meeting I presented a petition of over a 1000 signatures demonstrating support for the crossing, this included a number of older residents who are in support and have passed on comments to the council that the current crossing is unsatisfactory and dangerous. The councillors in attendance of the meeting agreed that something should be done as I should not be left isolated in my own home and prevented from visiting my local shops, amenities and from using the bus stop to catch the local bus into town. Despite strong support by the council and local residents a final commitment has not been made by the council to allocate money for the work to go ahead. There has been opposition by local businesses because some (iii) parking spaces will be lost, however, there is no evidence that alternative arrangements have been looked at, such as the use of additional parking at the pub ample car park or the use of the community church parking facilities. I have been campaigning for this improved crossing for many years and want to be able to use my local shops and amenities, independently like other residents and members of the community. Could the council please provide assurances that money will be allocated for this important work? Provide evidence that all avenues have been examined and carried out to find alternative parking and for local businesses to understand the need of local and vulnerable members of the community?’ 8. Members' questions To answer any questions asked under Standing Order A13. 9. Notice of motions To consider the following motion, notice of which has been given in accordance with Standing Order A14 by the members indicated: (a) Regionalised Pay for the Public Sector This council is aware that the Coalition Government is considering the introduction of regionalised pay for the public sector. Such a policy could have the following negative impacts on Torbay: 1) It could reduce incomes in the public sector resulting in an even further reduction of wages. 2) Increase the brain drain that Torbay already suffers from. 3) Regional pay is unlikely to have any measurable impact in making house prices more affordable. In light of the above this council requests the Torbay Development Agency to conduct research into the impact of this Government policy on Torbay and share with the Government its findings. Submitted by Councillors Darling and Pentney 10. Mayoral Decision - A Tree and Woodland Framework for (Pages 27 - 114) Torbay 2012-2017 - Subject to Call-In To consider a report on the above. 11. Mayoral Decision - Revenue Budget Monitoring 2011/12 (Pages 115 - 140) (Quarter 3) To consider the attached report and any recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on revenue budget monitoring. 12. Capital Investment Plan - Budget Monitoring 2011/12 (3rd (Pages 141 - 164) Quarter) To consider the attached report and any recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on the capital plan monitoring and variations for Quarter 3. (iv) 13. Council Tax 2012/13 (Pages 165 - 170) To consider a report on the setting of the Council Tax for 2012/13. 14. Torbay Council Annual Pay Policy Statement (Pages 171 - 180) To consider a report on the above. 15. Provisional Calendar of Meetings for 2012/2013 (Pages 181 - 186) To consider a report setting out the provisional calendar of meetings for 2012/2013. (v) This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 3 Minutes of the Council 1 February 2012 -: Present : - Chairman of the Council ( Councillor Mil ls ) (In the Chair) Vice-Chairman of the Council (Councillor Stringer) The Mayor of Torbay (Mayor Oliver) Councillors Addis, Amil, Baldrey, Barnby, Bent, Brooksbank, Butt, Cowell, Davies, Darling, Doggett, Ellery, Excell, Faulkner (A), Faulkner (J), Hernandez, Hill, Hytche, James, Kingscote, Lewis, McPhail, Morey, Parrott, Pentney, Pountney, Pritchard, Richards, Stockman, Stocks, Thomas (D), Thomas (J) and Tyerman 517 Opening of meeting The meeting was opened with a prayer. 518 Apologies for absence An apology for absence was received from Councillor Scouler. 519 Minutes The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8 December 2011 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 520 Communications The Chairman: (i) reminded Members of the civic charity ‘mad hatters’ gala night which would be taking place on 2 March 2012 at the Riviera International Conference Centre; and (ii) referred to a recent visit to Greycliffe Residential Home in Torquay where he met four ladies who were all celebrating their 100 th birthday. 521 Members' questions Members received a paper detailing the questions, as set out at Appendix 1 to these Minutes, notice of which had been given in accordance with Standing Order A13. Page 1 Council Wednesday, 1 February 2012 Supplementary questions were asked and answered by The Mayor (questions 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7), Councillor Lewis (question 2), Councillor Richards (question 6), Councillor Thomas (D) (questions 8 and 9) and Councillor Pritchard (question 10). 522 Gas and Electricity Prices Members considered a motion in relation to gas and electricity prices, notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.